Redemption Is A Response

I have the opportunity to co-teach our 9th grade girls on Sunday mornings which brings me so much joy! I have had a heart for student ministry for many years, and I am so thankful to be so involved with our Refuge Student Ministry. Our high school students just returned from a week of camp, and I was hoping that the lesson planned for the Sunday after camp would speak to them. I know there are no accidents with God, and that is why we had the perfect lesson for last Sunday.

We have been walking through the Old Testament with our students, so this past Sunday we were in the book of Ruth. If you are like me, you usually think of the love story between Ruth and Boaz. I have never really paid attention to the beginning of Ruth though, but it ended up encouraging me so much.

The story of Ruth takes place during the final days of the era of the judges, which was a 400-year period marked by chaos and oppression, when Israel had no kings and was led instead by occasional deliverers raised up by God whenever the people turned back to Him. There was a husband and wife named Elimelech and Naomi and they had two sons. Their two sons ended up marrying two Moabite women. This was an act of disobedience towards God since Moab was a pagan land. Naomi's husband and two sons pass away and she is just left with her two daughter in laws, Orpah and Ruth.

While Naomi is in Moab she hears that, "the Lord had visited His people and given them food." Ruth 1:6 Naomi hears that the Lord is doing a work in the land of Judah and wants to return. She is sure that the Lord has turned His face from her, but she still desires to see the work He is doing! She tells her daughter in laws to return to their families since she has no more sons for them to marry. Orpah kisses Naomi and leaves, but Ruth clings to her. Ruth is from a land that worshipped many gods and does not know much or anything about the Lord. She says to Naomi,

Ruth 1:16

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Ruth wanted the God of Naomi to also be her God. Naomi's relationship with God made such an impact on Ruth that Ruth was willing to leave behind everything she once knew. I believe, as women, we should strive to have a faith like Naomi.

Again, Naomi believed that the Lord had turned from her, but she still chose to follow Him in repentance. She desired to see Him working, and did not want to be any further from Him. We should want people to look at our lives and also say, "I want her God to be my God!" I desire a faith like Naomi that even in the darkest times in my life I pursue God and the work that He is doing. People will notice how we act, especially in times of suffering.

 I want my life to be marked by repentance and trust in God, and that is my prayer for you today!

Ruth, a gentile, goes on to marry Boaz and gives birth to a son named Obed. Obed becomes the father of Jesse, who is the father of David. This lineage goes all the way to Jesus! How cool is it to see such a redemptive work. All because Naomi pursued the Lord in full faith.

 "You will never win any soul to the right by a compromise with the wrong. It is decision for Christ and his truth that has the greatest power in the family, and the greatest power in the world, too.”

Charles H. Spurgeon

Prayer Tip #17 - Pray for a faith like Naomi.

• Heavenly Father, help me to fully seek You in times of suffering.

• Lord, thank You for Your kindness that leads to repentance.

• Father, thank You for Your living Word that we can learn from daily.

Suggested Prayer –

Heavenly Father, 

Help me this week to have a faith like Naomi. Where even in my suffering I still seek You and desire to be apart of the work You are doing. Thank You for forgiving me when I have gone against You in disobedience. You are a kind and forgiving God! Help me to be a shining light for Your Kingdom. May I glorify You in all I do!

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

For His Glory,

Haley Thorpe